November Movie Highlights at the New Beverly Cinema

With Quentin Tarantino re-opening the New Beverly Cinema as a celluloid-only picture house, we are taking a closer look at some of the great movies he is programming each month. Every town on the planet should have a New Bev, but since it’s really a one of a kind type of place, here’s another way for you to discover the movies and hunt them down so you can program your own movie nights with friends. We posted October highlights at Tarantino.info

In this wacky erotic sci-fi comedy, a beautiful girl from Planet Venus (Monika Ringwald) lands in London’s swinging Soho district to research human sexuality and the hijinks ensue. Needless to say this is one wild time! Co-starring Mark Jones, Andrew Grant and Tony Kenyon.

Erica Gavin is Jaqueline Wilson, a woman who has been sent to prison for drug charges. At the women’s detention facility, Wilson gets to know her fellow inmmates (Juanita Brown, Roberta Collins, Rainbeaux Smith) in a more intimate manner. The group of gals soon rally together against the sadistic warden (Barbara Steele) who tries to control them through cruel policies. This film stands out from the many entries in the Women In Prison genre due to its underlying themes of feminism and social activism.

Zoe Tamerlis stars as Thana a beautiful mute seamstress who while walking home from work one day is raped by a masked assailant, then raped AGAIN at her apartment. Thana manages to defend herself from the 2nd attacker and kills him. The psychological trauma soon drives her insane and she begins a one woman war on men in the city using her .45 automatic. The film has become a cult classic due to its violent content and low budget yet sharply executed direction. After this movie Ferrara continued to explore inner city stories about rebels and underworld characters in films like Fear City, China Girl, King of New York and Bad Lieutenant. Ms 45 remains one of the best rape-revenge shock films of its time along with I Spit on Your Grave and is recommended to fans of furious Grindhouse cinema.

Night of the Juggler (1980, Dir: Robert Butler)

When a psychotic criminal (Cliff Gorman) kidnaps the young daughter of ex-cop Sean Boyd (James Brolin), he teams up with a streetwise dog pound clerk Maria (Julie Carmen) to search the mean streets for her. Along the way Boyd also has to deal with a bitter former colleague that is out to get him. Co-starring Richard Castellano, Dan Hedaya, Mandy Patinkin.

Bells of San Angelo (1947, Dir: William Witney)

In this colorful Western adventure, the legendary Roy Rogers plays a border inspector that is keeping an eye out for silver being smuggled between Mexico and the United States. Roy also runs into a mystery writer named Lee Madison (Dale Evans) that has been depicting the West in a rather unflattering light. A classic Roy, Dale and Trigger gem that combines tough action, joyous music and rollicking humor. Co-starring Andy Devine, John McGuire, Olaf Hytten.

Rustler’s Rhapsody (1985, Dir: Hugh Wilson)

Tom Berenger stars as Rex O’Herlihan a Roy Rogers style singing cowboy that rides out of the old timey black and white era (Wizard of Oz fashion) into a colorized ‘real world’ setting. Upon his arrival in the town of Oakwood Estates he meets a variety of crazy characters including Peter (G.W. Bailey) the town drunk, Col. Ticonderoga (Andy Griffith) and Miss Tracy (Marilu Henner) a hooker with a heart of gold. This forgotten, offbeat Western comedy was not successful at the box office but has since developed a cult status. Director Hugh Wilson would go on to direct Burglar (1987), Guarding Tess (1994) and Blast From The Past (1999).

In this spaghetti western comedy made to capitalize on the Trinity films, Giuliano Gemma is Ben Bellow and George Eastman is Charlie Logan, two bandit pals that decide to split up only to find themselves brought back together for a new adventure. A bank robbery the two pull off prompts The Pinkerton Agency to send one of their trackers (Giacomo Rossi Stuart) after them and the dusty trails get torn up. Co-starring Marissa Mell, Aldo Sambrell.

An exciting, daring, comical satire blending of Disney’s Song of The South, The Godfather and Blaxploitation genre that focuses on a trio of animals: Fox (Charles Gordone), Bear (Barry White) and Rabbit (Philip Michael Thomas) who become underworld criminals in Harlem. This live action/animated cult classic has stirred up its share of controversy over the years due to its theme of racial stereotypes but it remains a one of a kind treasure from the 70s. Co-starring Scatman Crothers. TRIVIA: Director Ralph Bakshi considers it his best film.

A French/Belgian co-production based on Tarzan that was the first foreign animated film ever to get an X rating in the US. Tarzoon is most known for its sexual themed story set in the jungles of Africa where voracious vaginas, marching penises and other crotch based creatures reside. The movie has two versions: The original French and the English dub which is the most popular because of its connection to Saturday Night Live alum. Writers Annie Beatts and Michael O’Donoghue brought in stars Johnny Weissmuller Jr, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Brian Doyle Murray, Christopher Guest to voice the characters and made an unforgettably hilarious cult comedy movie experience.

In this Shaw Brothers classic, the Eagle Chief (Ku Feng) adopts young children who he trains to be his own army of killers. One of the students (Ti Lung) has a change of heart and decides to fight back against his old clan. A highly charged kung fu extravaganza.

The head of the Manchu lobbyists, Ni Sin is waiting for a Ching representative named Ding Wei Chung, who never shows up to his “peace meeting”. Ni Sin becomes enraged and vows he will find Ding and kill him for breaking his promise. Meanwhile a young farmhand named Yi Min (Billy Chong) is pulled into the war between political factions and the personal stakes are raised even further. A thrilling martial arts adventure featuring some amazing action.

Tread Softly Stranger (1958, Dir: Gordon Parry)

This British crime noir stars George Baker as Johnny Mansell a man on the run due to outstanding gambling debts. After returning to his hometown of Rawborough to hide out, Johnny moves in with his brother Dave (Terence Morgan) a steel mill worker and his girlfriend Calico (Diana Dors). Both brothers need money fast and soon Calico comes up with a slick plan for them to rob the payroll at Dave’s place of work. Of course the simple idea becomes much more complicated than was expected. A long forgotten hardboiled thriller that has lots of style due to its cinematography by Douglas Slocombe and kitchen sink realism.

The Unstoppable Man (1960, Dir: Terry Bishop)

A group of thugs kidnap the son of James Kennedy (Cameron Mitchell) the American executive of a London chemical company for ransom. Kennedy soon comes up with a plan of his own which involves doubling the money so the criminals will start to fight over how to split it. Co-starring Marius Goring, Harry H Corbett and Lois Maxwell.

This was the 2nd Man From U.N.C.L.E. film that was made up of a TV episode (“The Double Affair”) with additional footage added on for release theatrically. The story follows UNCLE agents Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn), Ilya Kuryakin (David McCallum), Arsene Coria (Fabrizio Mioni) and Namana (Bill Gunn) on an assignment to take a top secret code to a special location. Meanwhile UNCLE’s enemies in THRUSH send one of their sexy operatives (Senta Berger) to infiltrate the mission. Co-starring Leo G. Carroll, Micheal Evans.

Kung Fu Executioner (1981, Dir: Chan Wei Lin)

Billy Chong is Li, a man seeking revenge for the murder of his father, a businessman who refused to be strongarmed by a criminal kingpin. Li’s best friend Donny (Carl Scott) decides to join him on his personal vendetta. The result is a hard hitting kung fu grindhouse gem.

Following their work on the hit TV series I Spy, Robert Culp and Bill Cosby teamed up for this gritty LA neo noir about a pair of private detectives. The screenplay was written by a young Walter Hill (The Warriors).

For fans of stand up comedy this film is a must see masterpiece. The legendary Richard Pryor plays various characters and delves into deeply personal issues with his usual candid, brilliant sense of humor. This concert took place after an infamous accident in which he set himself on fire due to an addiction to freebasing cocaine. The album won a Grammy for Best Comedy Recording in 1982.

Fortune and Men’s Eyes (1971, Dir: Harvey Hart, Jules Schwerin)

Wendell Burton plays Smitty, a young man who is sent to prison for six months where he encounters the brutal reality of gangs who victimize the weaker inmates. He shares a cell with “Queenie” (Michael Greer) a flamboyant drag queen, Rocky (Zooey Hall) the resident tough guy and “Mona” (Danny Freedman) Queenie’s sidekick/manservant. The title of the film is derived from a Shakespearean poem entitled “When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes”.

Short Eyes (1977, Dir: Robert M. Young)

One of the best films about prison ever made. Bruce Davison stars as Clark Davis, a man who has been arrested for the rape of a young girl. When his fellow prisoners find out why he’s there, he is referred to as “Short Eyes” the prison term for child molesters. Davis is targeted by the other inmates for his crime but has one friend in Juan (Jose Perez) who isn’t sure if he’s guilty. The movie is a realistic study of prison life and the many races and cliques that are part of that deadly dog eat dog world.

Roustabout (1964, Dir: John Rich)

The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll stars as Charlie Rogers, a singer that gets fired from his job at a teahouse and joins the carnival as a roustabout thanks to a newfound friend Maggie Morgan (Barbara Stanwyck). When Maggie sees that Charlie is actually a talented musician she decides to make him a star attraction and he’s soon delighting the circus audiences with his charms. A freewheeling, fun Elvis classic that will knock your bobbysocks off. Co-starring Jack Albertson, Joan Freeman, Leif Erickson. Look for cameos from Billy Barty, Terri Garr, Joy Harmon, Richard Kiel and Raquel Welch.